Ambassador Bridge owner warned to back off twin span proposal

The company that owns the busy Ambassador Bridge between Canada and the United States is being warned by Windsor’s mayor to back off plans to build a twin span.

Eddie Francis fired off a letter to the Canadian Transit Company on Friday over its latest moves to twin the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest international border crossing in North America and the only bridge that connects Windsor and Detroit.

Bridge owner Matty Moroun, 80, is still pushing for the project, even after the U.S. government issued a presidential permit for the construction of a new public bridge across the Detroit River last month. This is seen as yet another delaying tactic by the billionaire bridge owner, who has also launched a number of lawsuits to try to prevent the loss of his monopoly.

The mayor’s letter, addressed to company president Dan Stamper, expresses disappointment that the CTC is still pursuing the twin span idea. It says the bridge company’s actions throw a wrench in plans the two sides were making to improve derelict Windsor neighbourhoods where homes were purchased by the company several years ago to make room for the second span. There has been no significant progress on such a project, and dozens of boarded-up homes sit empty in the city’s west end.

Francis and Stamper last met about the issue in the winter, even though – as Francis writes – “no other mayor, particularly one who is still being sued by you, would have agreed to meet with you.”

“At that time we understood your 2006 initiative to twin the bridge was in abeyance,” Francis said. “Instead, I have received your most recent correspondence talking about the twinned span and, at the same time, Transport Canada just announced it is actively engaged in finalizing its environmental assessment screening report for your twinning proposal.”

“That proposal is contrary to the City’s official plan and City efforts to protect its neighbourhoods and heritage properties.”

Francis says he’s willing to continue talks with Stamper that do not involve or help the bridge with its twinned span proposal.

Moroun’s twin span would require a number of high-level approvals, including a U.S. presidential permit. The new government-backed bridge is expected to be completed in 2020.